6 names for special BAC for CCMC

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Attorney Jerone Castillo has endorsed six names to compose the special Bids and Awards Committee that will take charge of the bidding process for the new Cebu City Medical Center building.

These include lawyer Jose Marie Poblete (city engineer), lawyer Jose Daluz III, lawyer Dominic Diño (chief of staff), lawyer Ferdinand Cañete (legal counsel), Dr. Daisy Villa (city health officer) and Marietta Gumia (budget officer).

“These people are enjoying his trust and confidence kay gi-appoint man sila. I will recommend that he will reappoint those who are qualified. Retain sila kay they were appointed by him. Ang kadtong dili qualified under the law, dili apil para wala nay legal question as to the composition of the BAC,” Castillo said, stressing that it is the prerogative of the mayor who to appoint as members.

Once Rama will approve the recommendation, the members of the special BAC will elect the chairman and vice chairman, among others, among themselves.

Castillo, however, will recommend the exclusion of Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos as representative of the requisitioner.

He said Delos Santos, the chair of the CCMC ad hoc committee, cannot sit as BAC member because it is not allowed under the implementing rules of the Bids and Awards Committee composition for local government units and Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The law provides that only employees with a plantilla position can be allowed membership in the BAC.

“The member of the BAC shall be occupying plantilla position based on the previous position I think all of them are qualified except one (Delos Santos)…because she is an elective in character or she was elected,” Castillo said.

Rama said he was open to the idea of retaining Delos Santos but would leave the decision to the legal office.

“If I will have to exercise that prerogative, if Mary Ann is still qualified, wala koy problema, but there were issues on who are not and who should be and who should not be… I’m leaving it to legal,” Rama said.

Delos Santos will remain as head of the ad hoc committee.

Castillo will recommend either Dr. Gloria Duterte, CCMC director for medical services, or lawyer Rey Cris Panugaling, the director for administration, to take over as representative of the “end user or requisitioner.”

“Both of them are qualified. It depends to the mayor kinsa iyang i-appoint,” he said. — /JMO (FREEMAN)